Wearable inflatable flotation device

Abstract

Described herein are inflatable wearable devices comprising: a reaction container having an expandable bladder, a dry powder compartment and a liquid compartment with a removable barrier between the compartments, the expandable bladder being connected to at least one of the dry powder compartment or the liquid compartment, and wherein the dry powder compartment comprises a mixture of an ionic hydride and a borohydride, and wherein the liquid compartment comprises an aqueous solution comprising a foam forming agent, and wherein upon removal of the barrier between the compartments, the aqueous solution contacts the mixture of an ionic hydride and a borohydride, thereby forming hydrogen gas foam.

1 . An inflatable wearable device comprising:
 a reaction container having an expandable bladder, a dry powder compartment and a liquid compartment with a removable barrier between the compartments, the expandable bladder being connected to at least one of the dry powder compartment or the liquid compartment, and wherein the dry powder compartment comprises a mixture of an ionic hydride and a borohydride, and wherein the liquid compartment comprises an aqueous solution comprising a foam forming agent, and wherein upon removal of the barrier between the compartments, the aqueous solution contacts the mixture of an ionic hydride and a borohydride, thereby forming hydrogen gas foam.   
     
     
         2 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 1  wherein the aqueous solution further comprises an acidifying agent. 
     
     
         3 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 1  wherein the foam forming agent is selected from the group consisting of: ethylene glycol, sodium alkyl benzenesulfonate, and sulfanol. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 1  wherein the foam forming agent is present in a concentration of between 1 to 5% by weight of the aqueous solution. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 2  wherein the acidifying agent is present in a concentration of between 1% and 7% by weight of the aqueous solution. 
     
     
         12 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 1  wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a sodium, potassium or ammonium salt of phosphoric acid. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 1  wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a foam stabilizing agent. 
     
     
         15 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 14  wherein the foam stabilizing agent is selected form the group consisting of diethylene glycol, propylene glycol and cyclohexanol. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution further comprising a bicarbonate. 
     
     
         18 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution further comprises aluminum potassium sulfate. 
     
     
         19 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 18  wherein aluminum potassium sulfate is present in an amount of 0.01% to 0.1% by weight of the aqueous solution. 
     
     
         20 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 1  where the ratio between ionic hydride to borohydride is between 1:100 to 1:4 by weight. 
     
     
         21 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 1  wherein the combination of ionic hydride and borohydride mixture with the aqueous solution causes a reaction which forms 8 L of hydrogen gas foam at 20° C. 
     
     
         22 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 1  wherein the amount of mixture of ionic hydride or borohydride in the device is between 2 and 10 grams, preferably between 3 and 5 grams. 
     
     
         23 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 22  wherein the amount of aqueous solution is between 5 and 15 grams. 
     
     
         24 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 1  comprising at least one strap and at least one connector configured to secure the strap around a part of a human body. 
     
     
         25 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 24  in the form of a wristband. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The inflatable wearable device according to  claim 1  wherein the barrier can be removed by applying pressure to one of the dry powder compartment or the liquid compartment. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method for providing buoyancy to a user involved in a water activity comprising:
 providing an inflatable device to a user involved in a water activity, the inflatable device comprising a reaction container having an expandable bladder, a dry powder compartment and a liquid compartment with a removable barrier between the compartments, the expandable bladder being connected to at least one of the dry powder compartment or the liquid compartment, and wherein the dry powder compartment comprises a mixture of an ionic hydride and a borohydride, and wherein the liquid compartment comprises an aqueous solution comprising a foam forming agent, and,   removing the barrier between the compartments, thereby contacting the aqueous solution with the mixture of an ionic hydride and a borohydride, thereby forming hydrogen gas foam.   
     
     
         31 . An inflatable bladder comprising a reaction container having a dry powder compartment and a liquid compartment with a removable barrier between the compartments, the expandable bladder being connected to at least one of the dry powder compartment or the liquid compartment, and wherein the dry powder compartment comprises a mixture of an ionic hydride and a borohydride, and wherein the liquid compartment comprises an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         32 . The inflatable bladder according to  claim 31  wherein the reaction container further comprises a foam-forming agent.